primary wash...

ving (David) · #1 04-05-2006, 01:20 PM

yup, just another washed mirror thread!

but just for newbies I thought i'd share my experience

I have had my scope for ages now! (when did i buy it? 2 years ago or is it one (time flies)) and the primary had a considerable amount of dust, hair and paint flakes on it. "PAINT FLAKES???? " i hear you ask. the paint has started flaking off the top of the scope and is settling on the primary mirror and surrounds (not large amounts mind you).
anyhow I decided it was well and truely time as the only cleaning the mirror has had is a bit of blowing stuff off. I bought some demiineralised water from supercheap auto ($1.50 per ltr or there abouts) and couldnt wait to get home.

At the bottom end of the OTA there are about 6 screws holding the bottom in - removed them. then with a straight edge screwdriver i slowly edged it out of the bottom of the tube and rested it on a teatowl in the dining room (so as to not scratch the table). next I fought our cat off as he wanted to help.
Cat removed i unscrewed and removed the mirror clamps, removed the mirror by holding the non-coated edge area and carefully placed it in the scrubbed sink which was about 1/3 full of warm soapy water... I let is sit for a little while...
With a piece of sterile cotton wool held under the water resting lightly on top of the mirror surface i made slow circular motions moving from the middle of the mirror out to the edge removing all the built up gunk. i did not at any time push down on the mirror. Next i fought the cat off again (3 times), he like playing in water.

Drained the sink and rinsed the soap off with warm water splashed on from the tap. rinsed with the demineralised water and set to air drying. I soaked up some larger drops of water with the tip of a tissue (just touching the water not the mirror).

...put everything back together (the reverse of the taking apart above) and wallah!!!

now all i have to do is recollimate and test. I also took the opportunity to remove the metal plate from the bottom (easy work).

iceman (Mike) · #2 04-05-2006, 01:32 PM

Well done Dave, it's easy when you actually do it! Not scary at all!

Did you check for astigmatism while you were there? ie: didn't tighten up the primary clamps too tight I hope?

ving (David) · #3 04-05-2006, 01:47 PM

eh? oh no, the primary clamps are really just tight enough to hold the mirror... I have loosened them before and know how tight to have them. mirror is A-ok!

newbies, dont be afraid! its not brain surgery

Vermin (Tom) · #4 04-05-2006, 03:09 PM

Cheers for the demineralised water source ving. I've got a big clumsy thumb print on my mirror that's worrying me (eating away the coating?).

ving (David) · #5 04-05-2006, 04:26 PM

just clean it in the same way mr tom cat

warm water and soap should help disolve the oil in the finger print!

ving (David) · #6 04-05-2006, 04:59 PM

oh yeah i forgot.... any questions from newbies? ask away

Starkler (Geoff) · #7 04-05-2006, 05:12 PM

All sounds good Mr Ving

The only thing I do differently is a gentle rinse to wash away any loose crud before filling the sink and sitting the mirror into the soapy water. That way theres less dirt to cause potential scratching once you get the cotton wool onto it.

vespine · #8 04-05-2006, 05:59 PM

I just take the mirror out and put some dog food on it, then give it to my housemate's beagle.

No I'm kidding of course, but the way that dog licks his bowl so clean I'm almost tempted! I can almost see my face in it! Imagine what he'd do for the mirror!

spacezebra (Petra) · #9 04-05-2006, 06:26 PM

cool Ving

Thanks for the post - you have given me the courage to do it on my own.

Thankfully - mirror is still lookin pretty good at the moment.

Cheers Petra

iceman (Mike) · #10 04-05-2006, 06:51 PM

Did you take photos for a how-to Mr Ving?

spacezebra (Petra) · #11 04-05-2006, 07:07 PM

Hi Ving

Pics would be great

Cheers Petra

norm · #12 04-05-2006, 07:34 PM

Hi Ving,

Was your primary centre spotted with one of those ringbinder hole thingys? If so did u put a new one on?

Starkler (Geoff) · #13 04-05-2006, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norm

Hi Ving,

Was your primary centre spotted with one of those ringbinder hole thingys? If so did u put a new one on?

Mine has been through the wash cycle three times and is still stuck in place

astro_nutt · #14 04-05-2006, 08:48 PM

I washed the mirror of my 10 inch dob about a year ago cause I got careless with the canned air and some of the liquid left a stain on the mirror...Instead of letting it soak..I just washed the mirror under the tap until the stain lifted..then rinsed with distilled water with the mirror tilted..after which I used canned air to push the tiny water droplets off...Hey presto!..a nice clean mirror...And I DO lock both my cats out...

#15 06-05-2006, 11:23 PM

I did mine a couple of months ago and will do it again before I reasemble the scope after it's re-paint (see "stripped" in general forum), the only thing I would add here is that I used my wife's pure cotton makeup removers, little round disks of cotton and they were just fantastic, once you have rinsed your mirror under running water, some warm very lightly soapy water and drag the cotton disks over the mirror using only there own weight, oh, and one other thing, I didnt remove the mirror from the cell, it can easily be done holding it at 45 degress and not submersing it, fan stays dry. I dont own a cat, I do like cats but cant eat a whole one.

Roger Davis · #16 08-05-2006, 08:11 AM

First I borrowed my nextdoor neighbours cat.
I used a can of beer and tap water that I had put through my Brita water filter.
I tilted the truss tube scope downwards so the mirror was vertical.
I shook up the beer can realy well (about two minutes) then just started to pop the top. I directed the spray over the face of the mirror so that it foamed and frothed the gunge away.
Taking the cat (named Puss, cause that's what most 3 year olds name a cat when it is given to them) who loves to be cuddled and actually has a fondness for water, I splashed some of the filtered water across his back, then holding him sideways (which he also enjoys) I gently swabbed the mirror without any pressure. I then poured the remainder of the filtered water over the mirror to wash away any remaining gunge.
Voila!! A new clean mirror. Mind you I'm still cleaning out the car fur.
Almost a true story, minus the cat! But somehow his fur still turns up in my scope!
Moral: You can clean a mirror with anything so long as there are no contaminants. Filtered water is okay, just ensure that there are no droplets left on the mirror, an air can or an air bulb work well.

matt · #17 08-05-2006, 08:19 AM

It's a good thing you made it clear no cats were harmed or actually used in the cleaning of that mirror.... or telling of that joke!!!

ving (David) · #18 08-05-2006, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman

Did you take photos for a how-to Mr Ving?

lol, sorry guys, no pics... want me to wash it again?

geoff: oops i left out the part where i ran it under the tap before placing it in the soapy water... i used the same method as you

my primary is not center spotted at all....

Roger Davis · #19 08-05-2006, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ving

lol, sorry guys, no pics... want me to wash it again?

geoff: oops i left out the part where i ran it under the tap before placing it in the soapy water... i used the same method as you

my primary is not center spotted at all....

No to have a centre spot you have to use a dog that's been washed with a perfumed shampoo

Or a cow, come to think of it, a friend of mine had a tame cow that the family called Spot. It used to actually walk into the kitchen at meal times.

Roger Davis · #20 08-05-2006, 05:14 PM

Ohh, I found a picture, thought I'd lost it!
Mirror has been put away, but the cat was still drip drying!